Jiang Ziya
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Jiang Ziya (Chinese: 姜子牙, Pinyin: Jiāng Zǐyá) (a.k.a. Jiang Taigong and Jiang Shang) (dates of birth and death unknown), a Chinese semi-mythological figure, resided next to the Weishui River about 3,000 years ago. The region was the feudal estate of King Wen of Zhou. Jiang Ziya knew King Wen was very ambitious so he hoped to get his attention.
He often went angling at the Weishui River, but he would fish in a bizarre way. He hung a straight hook, with no bait, three feet above the water. He over and over again said to himself, "Fish, if you are desperate to live, come and gulp down the hook by yourself."
In a little while his outlandish way of fishing was reported to King Wen, who sent a soldier to bring him back. Jiang noticed the soldier coming, but did not care about him. Jiang just continued with his fishing, and was soliloquising, "Fishing, fishing, no fish has been hooked—but shrimp is up to tomfoolery." The soldier reported this back to King Wen, who became more interested in Jiang.
King Wen sent a bureaucrat to invite Jiang this time. But Jiang again paid no attention to the invitation. He simply carried on fishing, saying, "Fishing, fishing, the big fish has not been hooked—but a small one is up to mischief."
Then King Wen realized Jiang might be a great genius so he went to invite Jiang personally, and brought many magnificent gifts with him. Jiang saw the king's earnest desire so Jiang decided to work for him.
Jiang helped King Wen and his son turn over the Shang Dynasty and establish the Zhou Dynasty. Jiang was given the title (hao) of Taigong so people called him Jiang Taigong. His treatise on military strategy, Six Secret Teachings, is considered one of the Seven Military Classics of Ancient China.
Jiang Ziya's grandson was given a piece of land in Northern China called 'Lu'. He took his surname from the land. All Chinese with the last name 盧 can trace their ancestry back to Jiang Ziya.
[edit] In popular culture
He is a prominent character in the popular Chinese classical novel Creation of the Gods (《封神演義》).
There are two xie hou yu (歇後語 a kind of Chinese proverb in the form of riddle) about him:
- Grand Duke Jiang fishes - those who are willing jump at the bait (姜太公釣魚──願者上鉤), which means "put one's own head in the noose".
- Grand Duke Jiang investiture the gods - omitting himself (姜太公封神──漏咗自己), which means "leave out oneself".
In the scenario "Chinese Unification" of the Civilization IV: Warlords expansion pack, Jiang Ziya is the leader of the State of Qi.
A character based on him plays the main protagonist in the manga Houshin Engi and the anime Soul Hunter.
